Two post mortems were carried out on the body of Mrs. Bolshaw:-

• The 1st was conducted by Dr. Benstead, Home Office pathologist (now deceased), after 3.30pm on 9.10.83. The time of death was estimated as after midnight- between 3.00am-6.00am on Sunday 9^th October 1983 - favourably 4.00am.

• On 17.10.83 Dr. Benstead, accompanied by Dr. J. Burns Home Office pathologist, conducted a re-examination of the body. Det. Supt. Owen and Det. Supt. Olsen also attended.

• Dr. Burns (now retired) gave evidence for the Crown at John’s trial. He said that it was not possible to give a time of death as the body had been in two mediums, air and water.

• He was reminded that in 1983 he had categorically stated he agreed with Dr. Benstead regarding the time of death.
  
  
• A message to Det. Supt. Owen from Dr. Burns following the re-examination of the body states "Please inform Det. Supt. Owen that I fully agree with Dr. Benstead, the time of death was 3am-6am".

• Dr. Burns could not refer to any notes taken. In fact, no notes from this 2^nd examination of the body of Mrs. Bolshaw appear to exist from either of the Home Office pathologists
  
  
• A police sergeant, now retired, told the court that he was the first police officer to enter the house (scene of crime) and that the bath water was tepid at 10.45am on Sunday 9^th October.

• A local GP, Dr. Wright, was called out by the police and attended the scene at 11.15am on 9^th October. He gave a statement at the time which said he had the impression that the body was still cooling, and that Mrs. Bolshaw had died within ‘the last few hours’ rather than the previous night. He also confirmed that the bath water was ‘relatively warmer than cold water’.

Alibi statements taken from suspects at the time were, as would be expected, taken in the light of the findings of the two Home Office pathologists relating to the estimated time of death.